Ethio-US Relations
Ethiopia is an important ally and a strategic partner for the United The states of America especially in the maintenance of peace and security and counter-terrorism in the Horn of Africa. The US Administration is also grateful for the fact that Ethiopia is undertaking massive political reforms and registering economic growth to transform the lives of its citizens. Ethiopia and the United States of America have long and historical relations.
The diplomatic relationship between the United States of America and Ethiopia was established on December 27, 1903, when King of Ethiopia Menelik II and the U.S. representative Robert P. Skinner, an envoy of the then US President Theodore Roosevelt, signed a trade treaty. In the treaty, the two countries agreed to receive representatives of each other to carry out and strengthen friendly relations between them. This relation further enhanced by the treaties of arbitration and conciliation signed in Addis Ababa on 26 January 1929 which granted Most Favored Nation status to Ethiopia. This diplomatic engagement was considered to be cordial and sustained until the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1935. The United States didn’t officially recognize the Italian authority in Ethiopia.
In 1906, the United States of America formally opened its consulate office in Addis Ababa. In the same vein, Ethiopia sent the first Ethiopian delegation to the United States in 1919. Following that, Ethiopia opened its consulate office in Washington DC in 1943 and Blata Ephraim Tewolde Medhin was appointed as the first Resident Minister. In 1949, the United States and Ethiopia agreed to upgrade their diplomatic representations from Legation to Embassy. Accordingly, Ras Imeru Haileselassie was appointed as the first Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States of America and Mr. George Merrill became the first US Ambassador to Ethiopia.
During the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, the two countries enjoyed very close relations and helped Ethiopia to secure America’s support. After World War II, Ethiopia, and the U.S. signed agreements that strengthened their ties further. In 1952, the Cooperation Program is known as Point Four Technical Aid Agreement was instrumental in spurring their relations and considered to be a basis for future engagement.
Between 1954 and 1973, Emperor Haileselassie I visited the United States five times. The relationship between Imperial Ethiopia and the United States reached its peak in the 1960s as many Ethiopian soldiers got military training in the United States. The 1974 Ethiopia’s revolution, however, put the two country’s relations in a different course. As the Ethiopian regime, the Dergue chose socialism as its ideology and inclined towards the then Eastern Block, U.S. – Ethiopian relations began to lose momentum and eventually stalled. Consequently, the U.S. military base Kagnew station was closed in 1977 and the Americans left the country. During the Derg period, the ambassadorial level relationship of the two countries was downgraded to Charge d’ Affaires status. However, their bilateral relations improved with the 1991 downfall of the Mengistu’s regime.
Following a change in government in Ethiopia in 1991, U.S. – Ethiopia relations improved as legislative restrictions on non-humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia were lifted. Their diplomatic relationship was also upgraded to the ambassadorial level in 1992. Total U.S. government assistance, including food aid, between 1991 and 2003 was $2.3 billion. During the severe drought year of 2003, the U.S. provided a record $553.1 million in assistance, of which $471.7 million was food aid. It is to be recalled that the late leader PM Meles Zenawi paid the first working visit to the United States from August 10-14/ 1994 when he was President of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia. Meles Zenawi met with President Clinton and other high officials and talked about issues of mutual interest. The two countries’ relations have since evolved into a close partnership and strategic level. This was evident during the bilateral discussions that were held between the then Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and President Barack Obama on September 25, 2014, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.
Currently, the United States and Ethiopia have close diplomatic relations as friends and partners. They are working very closely on economic growth and development; democracy, governance, and human rights; as well as regional peace and security.
Diplomatic Relations between Ethiopia and Canada
Ethiopia and Canada established its diplomatic relations in 1956. Nevertheless, people to people relations were already started before this period. For example, Canadian Missionaries had been rendering voluntary services in teaching and administering the former Kotebe and Ras Teferi Secondary Schools since 1949. The Missionaries were also engaged in organizing and administering the then Addis Ababa College.
The the bilateral relationship between the two countries has been strengthened from time to time. The 50th years of anniversary of the Ethio-Canada diplomatic friendship was celebrated with a series of events throughout the year in 2015. The celebration of the anniversary has played a positive role to strengthen the bilateral as well as people to people relationships between the two countries. The special friendship and cooperation that existed between Ethiopia and Canada over half a century are based on a firm foundation of mutual interest and genuine respect.
Both countries have been working towards strengthening their relationship in trade and investment. The two countries have a common interest and commitment to deal with the increasing global challenges of terrorism and refugees. Ethiopia and Canada has exchanged several official visits. Emperor Haile Selassie visited Canada three times, on June 3-7/1954, on October 7-9/1963 and on April 26-May 4/1967. During his second and third visits, the emperor held discussions with Prime Minister L.B. Pearson on possible technical assistance to Ethiopia. On May 4/1967, the Prime Minister initiated a new technical assistance program for Ethiopia, as a means of promoting existing relations between the two countries. The late Prime Minister of the FDRE, H.E. Meles Zenawi, also visited Canada during the G8/G20 summit from June 25-27, 2010. One of the major outcomes of the G-8 Summit in Canada was the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Initiative, which is in line with Ethiopia’s priority areas.
From On the Canadian side, the Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien visited Ethiopia in 2002. This was the first-ever state visit of a Prime Minister of Canada. The two Prime Ministers exchanged views on ways to further strengthen the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The visit exchanges of higher officials have created good opportunities to enhance the bilateral friendly relations and explore different ways to encourage bilaterally cooperation and engagement in diverse areas ranging from trade and investment to climate change and regional security. And hence, it drew a common interest and commitment to deal with the increasing global challenges of terrorism, refugees and climate change.
Political Consultation
The political consultation agreement, which was signed by the two countries in 2010, provided for the establishment of a joint consultation mechanism regularly at the State Minister level. The consultation was aimed to evaluate the implementation of existing bilateral agreements, identify new areas of cooperation based on common interests. Since 2012, the consultation has been conducted regularly every year. So far, Ethiopia and Canada have held seven political consultations. During these consultations, a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest were raised and discussed.
Bilateral agreements
Ethiopia and Canada has signed bilateral agreements in various areas. Among these, in 1998 the two countries have signed two economic agreements i.e., the Canadian Food Security Cooperation and the Canadian Ethiopian Democratic Development and Good Governance cooperation. An Air Service Agreement was also signed at the initial level in January 2010. Starting June 2011 Ethiopian Airlines has been flying to Canada. This has created a good opportunity to promote economic relations, particularly investment, business, and tourism as well as people to people relations between the two countries.
Development Assistance
Canada’s development assistance program in Ethiopia began in 1967 and continues. For instance, in 2014/15, Canadian development aid to Ethiopia was over CAD 108.04 million. In 2018 the Government of Canada announced 23 million US dollars in funding for two initiatives that will help advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Ethiopia, including women’s economic empowerment. It indicates that Ethiopia has become one of the single largest recipient countries of Canadian development assistance.
Cooperation in Regional issues
Ethiopia and Canada shares common goals in promoting peace and security in East Africa. Ethiopia and Canada work together, on peacemaking and peacebuilding in Somalia and South Sudan as well as to fight terrorism and ensure peace and security in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia welcomed the contribution of Canada to the ongoing peace efforts in Somalia.
The two countries have also a common interest and commitment to deal with the increasing global challenges of terrorism and refugees.
Ethiopia and Cuba Diplomatic Relations
Ethiopia and Cuba have longstanding and historical diplomatic relations going back to the period of the Derg Regime. Cuba and Ethiopia established diplomatic relations on July 18, 1975. Cuba opened an embassy in Addis Ababa in 1975; While Ethiopia opened an embassy in Havana in 1977.
It was under the strong leadership of former president Fidel Castro that Cuba became among few countries that stood alongside Ethiopia during the invasion of Ethiopia by Somalia from 1977-1978. During this invasion 163 heroic men and women of Cuba paid the ultimate sacrifice to fulfill their mission entrusted on them to preserve Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. A monument has been erected to the fallen heroes and heroines of Cuban internationalism in the heart of Addis Ababa, in the Ethio-Cuba Friendship Park on Churchill Road.
The collaboration between both countries has been strong with several agreements signed between the two countries. A framework agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was signed in September 1999. Following this agreements five joint commission meeting was held between the two countries. And new joint consultation meeting agreement was signed in 13th June 2006. For the last 30 years, Cuba has provided full scholarships for some 4000 Ethiopian students to study and train in different universities and higher institutions in various disciplines. Significant numbers of Cuban experts are working in education and health sectors in Ethiopia.
High Level visit from Cuba to Ethiopia
- President Fidel Castro Visited Ethiopia two times during the period of the Derg Regime. At the ministerial level General Raul Castro, Mr. Alsero Mele Meyerk, Former Foreign Minister, Mr. Giyerm Fereyes, Peoples Council & Council of Ministers also visited Ethiopia in the same period.
- A delegation led by Esteban Lazo Hernandez, vice President of Cuba Republic visited Addis Ababa in December 2007.
- The delegation led by Esteban Laze Hernandez had also made an official visit to Ethiopia In July 2011. During this visit he held bilateral discussion with President Girma W/Georigis and Hailemariam Desalegn, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Bruno Rodriguze Parrilla, Minister of Cuban Foreign Affairs, visited Ethiopia in Nov 2013, and had bilateral discussion with Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister; Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of FDR of Ethiopia, and Dr. Tewoderos Adhanom, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Abadula Gemeda, speaker of the House of People’s Representatives, and Demeke Mekonen, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
- Salvador Valdes Mesa, Vice President of Cuba, visited Ethiopia in January 2017 and had bilateral discussion with Dr.Mulatu Teshome, President of Ethiopia, Haile Mariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonen, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Abadula Gemeda, speaker of the House of Representatives.
- The delegation led by Vice President Salvador valdes Mesa also visited Ethiopia in May 2019, and had bilateral discussions with Ato Gedu Andargachew, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
High Level visit from Ethiopia to Cuba
- A delegation led by Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia conducted an official visit to Cuba in 2003.
- Dr, Tekeda Alemu, state Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Cuba in November 2008 and had bilateral discussion with his Cuban counterpart,
- A delegation led by Abadula Gemeda, Former speaker of the House of People’s Representatives visited Cuba in 2012 and had a bilateral discussion with his Cuban counterpart.
- Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Cuba in June 2016 and had bilateral discussion with deputy president of Cuba, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Investment. He also signed an agreement on a joint consultation meeting that replaces the terminated joint commission with the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of Ethiopia participated at the funeral the ceremony of the late President Fidel Castro at the end of 2016.
- The 40th Anniversary of Ethio-Cuban friendship and diplomatic relations was marked in Addis Ababa with various events from October 10 to 15th 2018.
1. Ethiopia and Brazil Diplomatic Relations
Ethiopia and Brazil established diplomatic relations in 1961 after the visits of Emperor Haile Selassie visited Brazil in 1960. In 1967, Brazil opened its embassy in Addis Ababa and the following year (1968), Ethiopia opened an embassy in the Rio de Janeiro and acted to strengthen the relationship. However, Ethiopia closed its Embassy sometime later in 1968 and Brazil also closed its embassy in 1970.
From 1977 to 1992, the Brazilian embassy in Nairobi has been covering Ethiopia. July 2004 H.E. Vera Pedrosa, Undersecretary of Political Affairs at the Foreign affairs of Brazil arrived in Addis Ababa and had met with Dr. Tekeda Alemu, the then State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
In July 2005 Brazil reopened its embassy in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia opened an embassy in Brazil in 2011.
High-Level visit from Ethiopia to Brazil
Emperor Haile Selassie, I had official visit to Brazil in 1960,
Heading the Ethiopian delegation to the Rio+20 Earth Summit, Meles Zenawi, Prime-Minister of FDR of Ethiopia visited Brazil In 2012,
Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance of Ethiopia visited Brazil in 2012 and had a bilateral discussion with the Minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Fernando Pimentel.
High-Level visit from Brazil to Ethiopia
Celso Amorim, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil visited Ethiopia in 2005.
The delegation led by Ambassador Paulo Cordeirode, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil visited Ethiopia in 2011. During the visit discussion was held with Ambassador Brihane G/Kirstos, state Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil visited Addis Ababa in 2013 during her participation as a special guest in the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the African Union. The President met with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn (May 24-27)
Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs Visited Addis Ababa in 2016, had bilateral discussion with his Ethiopian counterpart, Tewodros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He was received by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. The Minister took part in the Brazil-Ethiopia Business Seminar (March 8)
Economic Relation between the two countries
Currently, there are more than two Brazilian companies engaged in the sector of agro-processing business in Ethiopia. However, with Brazil’s vast experience in the industry, particularly in the water sector, infrastructure, energy-generating technology, chemical industry, sugar and ethanol, there are opportunities to recruit more investors to Ethiopia. As a result, by extending the wide range of investment opportunities in Ethiopia to the Brazilian business community, Investment Cooperation, and Facilitation The agreement is expected to increase the investment flow through rigorous monitoring and implementation.
Both countries have the similar climate and produce the similar products. Brazil is a country with considerable experience in economic sector and there is a great opportunity for the exchange of experience and expertise. Accordingly, the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate with two of its Forest Management and Soil Acidity Management Projects and now it is in the process of implementation.
Technology transfer and capacity building
Since Ethiopia has the same ecosystem with Brazil, the Ethiopian embassy has been working on technology transfer. Accordingly, Ethiopia’s research institutes and groups of officials and experts from different departments have taken experience from Brazil.
Ethiopia–Mexico relations
Ethiopia was the only nation in Africa to have never been colonized by a European country. However, in 1935, Italian troops invaded Ethiopia. This was known as the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. At the League of Nations, Mexico was one of only five member-states to condemn the Italian invasion and occupation of Ethiopia. Because of this, Ethiopia kept its seat in the assembly, and it remained a member. A few years after World War II, diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Mexico were established in 1949. In 1954, Emperor Haile Selassie became the first-ever African head of state to pay an official visit to Mexico.
To commemorate Mexico’s assistance to Ethiopia during its occupation by Italy; Ethiopia named a center square in Addis Ababa “Mexico Square“. In 2010, the Mexican government donated a replica of an Olmec colossal head to Ethiopia where it was placed in Mexico Square. In September 2015, the Ethiopian capital inaugurated it’s a Light Rail system and has a “Mexico Station”. On the 22nd of June 1954, a traffic circle in Mexico City was named “Plaza Etiopía”, under which in August 1980, a metro station in Mexico City was built and named Metro Ethiopia.
In July 2010, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi arrived in Cancun to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference. In June 2012, Prime Minister Zenawi again visited Mexico to participate in the G-20 summit held in Los Cabos. In 2019, both nations marked 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. In 2019, Ethiopian Airlines launched cargo services between both nations.
High-level visits from Ethiopia to Mexico
- Emperor Haile Selassie (1954)
- Prime Minister Meles Zenawi attending a G-20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico along with host, President Felipe Calderón in 2012.
High-level visits from Mexico to Ethiopia
- Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa (2010)
- Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Julián Ventura (2019)
Bilateral agreements
Ethiopia and Mexico have signed the following bilateral agreements: Agreement to Establish Consultations on Mutual Interests (2006) and an Agreement on the Elimination of Visa Requirements for Diplomatic Passport Holders (2006).
Trade relations
In 2018, two-way trade between Ethiopia and Mexico amounted to US$8.6 million. Mexico’s main exports to Ethiopia include landing gears and electronic equipment. Ethiopia’s main exports to Mexico include sesame seeds and industrial equipment to make shoes.
